FLASHES, bangs and bright colours had pupils from Corsham Regis Primary School watching open-mouthed in amazement as scientist Andrew Szydlo performed "magic" for them.

Pouring liquid nitrogen over a balloon, causing it to deflate, before blowing up again, using various chemicals to show colour-changes and creating smoke and flames had the youngsters glued to the science lecture called As if by Magic.

The aim of the demonstrations on Tuesday was to teach the pupils from Year 3 to 6 about different chemical reactions, air pressure and effects of liquid nitrogen.

Dr Szydlo has more than 35 years experience giving chemistry demonstrations including at the Royal Institution and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has also appeared on a number of television programmes.

School governor Humphry Barnikel helped organise the event. He said: “The lecture covered many aspects of science and kept the children on the edge of their seats with stories, anecdotes, flashes, bangs, colour changes, eruptions and demonstrations with liquid nitrogen.

“Dr Szydlo is so multi-talented that he even played the violin and a bugle during the experiments. He finished the lecture with the loudest bang of all and there was a stunned silence followed by excited applause from all the children who had greatly enjoyed the event and have certainly learnt that oxygen aids burning.”